BUCKED UP Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

bucked up

verb

past tense of buck up

as in brightened

to become glad or hopeful buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be

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as in inspired

to fill with courage or strength of purpose a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of bucked up While waiting for help, stay bucked up inside your vehicle. — Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 15 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bucked up

Verb

The green is equally luscious in texture, made with chicken thigh and skin, but intensely herbaceous, brightened with parsley, cilantro, poblano and jalapeño.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
In its latest incarnation, designed by the firm S9, the curtain wall has darkened and the electronic billboards brightened, so that the tower resembles a TV mount, more apparatus than architecture.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of brightened

Verb

Prosecutors Elizabeth Lipella and Taylor Collins presented evidence during the weeklong trial showing that the defendant and victim were in the same area when she was last seen, that Ryan looked up information on chloroform, alcohol and bleach.

— Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
During the trial in the Tampa area, prosecutors pointed out that Kosowski repeatedly researched Cozzi and, days before the murder, looked up succinylcholine and its effect on the human body.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of looked up

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bucked

bucked up

bucket

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“Bucked up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bucked%20up. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bucked up

verb

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